Thursday, February 5
Operatic arias
Angela Gheorghiu (soprano), Murat Karahan (tenor)
The Limak Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Mikhail Agrest, accompanies soprano Angela Gheorghiu and tenor Murat Karahan in a selection of arias. This orchestra was set up by the Limak Foundation in 2017, and the concert is subtitled ‘50. Yıl Konserleri – Yeni Yıl Buluşması’.
Angela Gheorghiu, born in Romania in 1965 to a seamstress mother and a train driver father, is known especially for her roles in operas by Puccini and Verdi, having first achieved fame as Violetta in Verdi’s La traviata at Covent Garden in 1994. Her voice has been described as ‘the most instantly recognisable and interesting soprano voice of our time. A liquid instrument of great lyrical beauty with gleaming spun-gold high notes, but a dark, vibrant contralto range reminiscent of Maria Callas.’
Murat Karahan, a distinguished Turkish tenor who was trained at the Bilkent University Faculty of Music and the Performing Arts in Ankara and at the Santa Cecilia Conservatoire in Rome, has performed in many famous opera houses in Europe including the Berlin Staatsoper, the Wiener Staatsoper, the Arena di Verona, the Teatro Real Madrid, the Bolshoi Theatre and the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich. From 2018 to 2023 he was General Artistic Director of the Turkish State Opera and Ballet companies.
Türkcell Sahnesi, Zorlu Performing Arts Center (PSM)
21:00 (doors open 19:00)
Tickets: sold out
Event website
Friday, February 6
Jazz
Ferit Odman Quintet
Drummer Ferit Odman, trained in Sweden, Istanbul and New York, is one of the best-known names in Turkish jazz. The albums he has recorded so far are *Nommo* (2010), *Autumn in New York* (2011) and *Dameronia With Strings* (2015). *Autumn in New York* and *Dameronia With Strings* were each awarded four stars by ‘DownBeat’ magazine, while *Nommo* was awarded three and a half stars.
Touché by N Kolay, Zorlu Performing Arts Center (PSM)
21:00 (doors open 19:30)
Tickets from Passo
Event website
Friday February 13
Jazz
Ozan Musluoğlu Quintet
Double-bass player Ozan Musluoğlu attended the Music Department of Bilgi University. He began studying his chosen instrument (with Volkan Hürsever, James Lewis and Kürşat And) in 2001, and from 2003 to 2008 toured Turkey and other countries with Athena, a Turkish ska and punk rock group. The Ozan Musluoğlu Quartet was formed in 2009. His first album, Coincidence, appeared in 2009, followed by *40th Day* (2011), My Best Friends are Pianists (2012) and My Best Friends are Vocalists (2015). His latest album, Nine II* released in 2023, features pianist Danny Grissett, trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, tenor saxophonist Engin Recepoğulları and drummer Ferit Odman. Accompanying him at Touoché are Barış Doğukan Yazıcı (trumpet), Engin Recepoğulları (tenor saxophone), Kaan Bıyıkoğlu (piano) and Ferit Odman (drums).
Touché by N Kolay, Zorlu Performing Arts Center (PSM)
21:00 (doors open 19:30)
Tickets from Passo: 1175TL, 1300TL (front row), 4107TL (box, inc. dinner)
Event website
